COLOGNE, June 11 - Scorer Pauleta said Portugal would have to improve after struggling to kill off Angola's challenge before winning their Group D opener 1-0 on Sunday.

Pauleta netted after Luis Figo cut through the Africans' defence in the fourth minute but the expected avalanche of goals for the 2004 European Championship finalists never materialised.

"It was the first match of the tournament (for us), which is always difficult. The important thing is that we got the three points against an Angola team that really played well," said Pauleta.

"We have to improve, that's clear."

Man of the Match Figo agreed, telling reporters: "We could have played a little better but we're satisfied with the result.

"Our plan was to get three points so 1-0 was as good as 5-0. If we win the next match against the team that lost in our group (Iran), they're out and we're through."

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who guided Brazil to victory at the last World Cup in 2002, was content too.

"A victory even if it's by the narrowest of margins is excellent," he said. "We have three points in the bag. The game was complicated as expected."

The Africans take on group leaders Mexico, listed fourth in the world rankings, in Hanover on Friday.

Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves said: "We played a great team in Portugal with a history of many World Cups but Angola will keep doing what we do, keep playing with great spirit and I'm sure we can make life difficult for Mexico in our next game."